Music & Dance

In the first installment of his new fortnightly column on experimental and independent music, Ceasefire's Andrew Fleming takes a look at two recent books on the musical avant-garde: an analysis of the cult journal 'Source', and Simon Reynolds' much-discussed work on 'Retromania'.

'The War on Terra', the second album by underground political hip-hop duo Verbal Terrrorists, "embodies the traditional spirit of hip-hop as a form of cultural and ideological resistance against hegemony" says Tom Clements.

French singer-songwriter June Caravel spent an entire year making a video, 'London Song', in which (almost) every word in the lyrics is the name of a London street. In an exclusive article, she explains.

Next month sees the much anticipated return of Godspeed You! Black Emperor- one of the most vital and thrilling bands of late nineties and early naughties. In this week's Deserter's Songs music column, David Bell explains why he finds their music so hauntingly fascinating.